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Tenebrae Responsories

Introduction

The Liturgy of Holy Week in the Roman Rite was called Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae and this was the title that Victoria used for his collection published in Rome in 1585 shortly before he returned to Spain. In it he presented polyphonic music to adorn some of the most important services from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday. It is one of the most complete cycles of music for Holy Week by a single composer, exceeded only by that of the little-known Paulus Ferrariens (1565). Of Victoria’s peers, Lassus and Palestrina, we have Lamentations and Responsories by the former and five sets of Lamentations (of which only the simplest was printed) by the latter. Victoria’s Officium for Holy Week and his great Office of the Dead have stood the test of time and are recognized as supreme works of the last phase of what we call Renaissance polyphony. Their intensity of expression and concentrated anguish have also influenced, somewhat unduly, our view of the composer, overshadowing his serene and joyous music for the countless happy festivals of the Church.

Within Victoria’s great monument of music for the ceremonies of the Passio et mors Domini nostri Iesu Christi there are two outstanding and quite different sets of specifically liturgical pieces—nine Lessons from the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet, and eighteen Responsories, all for the services called Tenebrae (Matins followed by Lauds) on Maundy Thursday (Feria V in Coena Domini), Good Friday (Feria VI in Parasceve) and Holy Saturday (Sabbato Sancto). It is the set of eighteen Responsories that has acquired a musical life of its own in modern times, divorced from the liturgy and context in which it was conceived. But all great music rapidly bids farewell to its parent, the vessel and mould through which it passed, and takes on a life of its own.

The original context of Tenebrae, now largely abandoned in the debasement of liturgy by a de-spiritualized Church, was a sombre celebration of Matins divided into three Nocturns on each of the three days. In the first Nocturn of each day three Lamentations were alternated with three Responsories. Victoria set the Lamentations but not the Responsories. In the second and third Nocturns he did the opposite. The Lessons were to be recited and the Responsories Victoria put into strictly ordered polyphony, observing every correct repeat prescribed by the rubrics. Thus Victoria wrote six Responsories for each of the three days. In this respect he did the same as his great contemporary Lassus who wrote his eighteen in the 1580s. Lassus also published his set of Lamentations in 1585.

The plan of the Responsory texts and of the music is always ABCB with an additional repeat in the third of each group, thus ABCBAB. The section C is always for fewer voices—three parts instead of four—except in the very first where the versicle (C) is for just two. In Victoria’s orderly plan the first and third of each group of three Responsories are for a choir of SATB voices, but the middle one of each group is for SSAT. All the music of the eighteen Responsories is in the high clefs of Renaissance notation. Although there is therefore a strong argument for downward transposition in performance, modern choirs, including Westminster Cathedral’s, usually sing them as notated at modern pitch. A Roman tradition dating from the eighteenth century is followed at Westminster Cathedral in performing Tenebrae factae sunt and Aestimatus sum an octave lower, sung by tenors and basses instead of SSAT.

The texts of the Tenebrae Responsories trace the events of the Passion and Death of Christ. They are primitive centonizations from the Gospels with additions of unknown authorship dating probably from the fourth century. They do not always seem to make perfect sense, but somehow this enhances the austere power of it all, words and music.

In listening to this music in our modern way, as a suite of pieces set in great unity by a magisterial hand, we should reflect upon its conception and first purpose. Imagine a great church in darkness but for a massive stand with fifteen candles. Imagine how, as the Lamentations, Responsories, readings, psalms and canticles are chanted by priests, choirmen and boys, glorious polyphony punctuating the ancient plainchant, the candles are gradually extinguished until the last is hidden as the brief office of Lauds is concluded after the long Matins. This was the Tenebrae of Holy Week, often sung in recent centuries during the preceding evenings rather than in the small hours of the last days of Holy Week.

Victoria would surely be sad at the loss of the great ceremonies, of a liturgy that had been revised and perfected in his own lifetime. He might justifiably be proud that his own contribution could still move hearts and stimulate minds four centuries later. Victoria’s balance of formality and expression, his perfect setting and propulsion of the Latin words, still excite our admiration.

Recordings

'Enthusiastically recommended to anyone interested in Renaissance polyphony and everyone else besides' (Gramophone)'These pieces, of tragic magnificence, are performed with intensity and integrity, so that a great recording will now ensure that an incomparable trea ...» More

Tenebrae turns to the sublime music of Tomás Luis de Victoria with this recording of his timeless Tenebrae Responsories. The works mix the words of the Gospels with other texts commenting on collective suffering written around the 4th century, and ...» More

Released to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611), this specially-priced set contains The Tallis Scholars' original releases of Victoria's three most important works, the Requiem, the Lamentations and the Tenebrae R ...» More

Sacred Music from the Renaissance Era for Celestial and Secular Radio. When Peter Phillips founded The Tallis Scholars in 1973 sacred vocal music from the Renaissance Era was seldom heard on radio. Now it is firmly established as one of the great ...» More

The sign by which my friend betrayed me
was a kiss: ‘The one I kiss, he is your man;
hold him fast.’ This was the evil sign he gave,
and through a kiss murder he wrought.
The wretch returned the price of blood,
and in the end he hanged himself.It would have been good for that man,
had he never been born.
The wretch returned the price of blood,
and in the end he hanged himself.

The sign by which my friend betrayed me
was a kiss: ‘The one I kiss, he is your man;
hold him fast.’ This was the evil sign he gave,
and through a kiss murder he wrought.
The wretch returned the price of blood,
and in the end he hanged himself.It would have been good for that man,
had he never been born.
The wretch returned the price of blood,
and in the end he hanged himself.

Judas, that dealer in wickedness, sought
out the Lord with a kiss, and He, like an innocent
lamb, did not refuse Judas’ kiss: For a handful
of coins he delivered Christ up to the Jews.It would have been better for him,
had he never been born.
For a handful of coins
he delivered Christ up to the Jews.

Judas, that dealer in wickedness, sought out
the Lord with a kiss, and He, like an innocent
lamb, did not refuse Judas’ kiss: For a hand­ful
of coins he delivered Christ up to the Jews.It would have been better for him,
had he never been born.
For a handful of coins
he delivered Christ up to the Jews.

This day shall one of my disciples betray me.
Woe to him by whom I am betrayed.
It would have been better for him,
had he never been born. He who dips his hand into the bowl with me
will deliver me into the hands of sinners.
It would have been better for him, had he
never been born. This day shall one of
my disciples betray me. Woe to him by whom I am
betrayed. It would have been better for him,
had he never been born.

This day shall one of my disciples betray me.
Woe to him by whom I am betrayed.
It would have been better for him,
had he never been born. He who dips his hand into the bowl with me
will deliver me into the hands of sinners.
It would have been better for him, had he
never been born. This day shall one of my
disciples betray me. Woe to him by whom I
am betrayed. It would have been better for
him, had he never been born.

I was like an innocent lamb.
I was led to sacrifice, and did not know.
My enemies plotted against me, saying:
‘Come, let us put wood into his bread, and
drive him from the land of the living.’All my enemies devised evil
against me. Cruel words they spoke
against me, saying:
‘Come, let us put wood into his bread, and
drive him from the land of the living.’

I was like an innocent lamb.
I was led to sacrifice, and did not know.
My enemies plotted against me, saying:
‘Come, let us put wood into his bread, and
drive him from the land of the living.’All my enemies devised evil
against me. Cruel words they spoke
against me, saying:
‘Come, let us put wood into his bread, and
drive him from the land of the living.’

Could you not keep watch with me one hour,
you who declared you would die for me?
Or do you not see that Judas does not sleep,
but hastens to deliver me into the hands of the Jews?Why do you sleep? Arise and pray
that you may not be put to the test.
Or do you not see that Judas does not sleep,
but hastens to deliver me
into the hands of the Jews?

Could you not keep watch with me one hour,
you who declared you would die for me? Or do
you not see that Judas does not sleep, but
hastens to deliver me into the hands of the Jews?Why do you sleep? Arise and pray
that you may not be put to the test.
Or do you not see that Judas does not sleep,
but hastens to deliver me
into the hands of the Jews?

The elders of the people plotted together
to have Jesus arrested by some trick,
and to put him to death: with swords and cudgels
they went out as if against a robber. The priests and pharisees
conferred together.
To have Jesus arrested by some trick,
and to put him to death:
with swords and cudgels they went out
as if against a robber. The elders of the people
plotted together to have Jesus arrested by some trick,
and to put him to death: with swords and cudgels
they went out as if against a robber.

The elders of the people plotted together
to have Jesus arrested by some trick,
and to put him to death: with swords and
cudgels they went out as if against a robber. The priests and pharisees
conferred together
to have Jesus arrested by some trick,
and to put him to death: with swords and
cudgels they went out as if against a robber.
The elders of the people plotted together
to have Jesus arrested by some trick,
and to put him to death: with swords and cudgels
they went out as if against a robber.

‘As if against a robber
you have come out with swords
and cudgels to seize me.
Day after day I was with you teaching
in the temple and you did not arrest me,
but now you scourge me
and lead me away to death upon the cross.’And when they had laid hands upon Jesus,
and had arrested him, he said to them:
‘Day after day I was with you teaching
in the temple and you did not arrest me,
but now you scourge me
and lead me away to death upon the cross.’

‘As if against a robber
you have come out with swords
and cudgels to seize me.
Day after day I was with you teaching
in the temple and you did not arrest me,
but now you scourge me
and lead me away to death upon the cross.’And when they had laid hands upon Jesus,
and had arrested him, he said to them:
‘Day after day I was with you teaching
in the temple and you did not arrest me,
but now you scourge me
and lead me away to death upon the cross.’

There was darkness when the Jews crucified Jesus,
and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out aloud:
‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’,
and having bowed down his head,
he breathed his last.Crying out aloud Jesus said:
‘Father, into your hands I commit my soul’,
and having bowed down his head, he breathed his last.

There was darkness when the Jews
crucified Jesus, and about the ninth hour
Jesus cried out aloud:
‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’, and
having bowed down his head, he breathed his last.Crying out aloud Jesus said: ‘Father, into your
hands I commit my soul’,
having bowed down his head, he breathed his last.

The life that I held dear I delivered into the hands
of the unrighteous, and my inheritance
has become for me like a lion in the forest.
My enemy spoke out against me,
‘Come, gather together and hasten to devour him.’
They placed me in a wasteland of desolation,
and all the earth mourned for me.
For there was no one who would
acknowledge me or give me help.Men rose up against me without mercy
And spared not my life.
For there was no one who would acknowledge
me or give me help. The life that I held dear I delivered into the hands
of the unrighteous, and my inheritance has become
for me like a lion in the forest.
My enemy spoke out against me:
‘Come, gather together and hasten to devour him.’
They placed me in a wasteland of desolation
and all the earth mourned for me.
For there was no one who would
acknowledge me or give me help.

The life that I held dear I delivered into the hands
of the unrighteous, and my inheritance has
become for me like a lion in the forest.
My enemy spoke out against me,
‘Come, gather together and hasten to devour him.’
They placed me in a wasteland of desolation, and
all the earth mourned for me.
For there was no one who would acknowledge me
or give me help.Men rose up against me without mercy
and spared not my life.
For there was no one who would acknowledge
me or give me help. The life that I held dear
I delivered into the hands of the unrighteous,
and my inheritance has become for me like a
lion in the forest. My enemy spoke out against
me: ‘Come, gather together and hasten
to devour him.’ They placed me in a wasteland
of desolation and all the earth mourned for me.
For there was no one who would
acknowledge me or give me help.

The life that I held dear I put into the hands of the unrighteous,
and my inheritance has become for me like a lion in the forest.
My enemy spoke out against me,
Come, gather together and hasten to devour him.
They placed me in a wasteland of desolation,
and all the earth mourned for me.

The life that I held dear I put into the hands of the unrighteous,
and my inheritance has become for me like a lion in the forest.
My enemy spoke out against me,
Come, gather together and hasten to devour him.
They placed me in a wasteland of desolation,
and all the earth mourned for me.

They delivered me into the hands of the ungodly
and cast me among the unjust
and spared not my life.
The mighty gathered against me,
and like giants they stood against me. Strangers rose up against me,
and the mighty sought my life,
and like giants they stood against me.

They delivered me into the hands of the ungodly
and cast me among the unjust
and spared not my life.
The mighty gathered against me,
and like giants they stood against me. Strangers rose up against me,
and the mighty sought my life,
and like giants they stood against me.

The ungodly man betrayed Jesus to the
chief priests and the elders of the people,
but Peter followed him at a distance,
to see how it would end.They led him to Caiphas,
the chief priest, where the scribes
and pharisees were gathered together,
but Peter followed him at a distance,
to see how it would end.

The ungodly man betrayed Jesus to the
chief priests and the elders of the people,
but Peter followed him at a distance,
to see how it would end.They led him to Caiphas, the chief priest,
where the scribes and pharisees were
gathered together,
but Peter followed him at a distance,
to see how it would end.

My eyes were blind with weeping;
for he that consoled me is far from me.
Consider, all you people,
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.All you who pass along this way,
take heed and consider
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.
My eyes were blind with weeping; for he
that consoled me is far from me.
Consider, all you people,
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.

My eyes were blind with weeping; for
he that consoled me is far from me.
Consider, all you people,
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.All you who pass along this way,
take heed and consider
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.
My eyes were blind with weeping; for he
that consoled me is far from me.
Consider, all you people,
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.

Our shepherd,
the fount of living water, is gone.
At his passing the sun grew dark.
For even he is taken, who captive
held the first of men. Today our Saviour
has burst alike the gates and bolts of death.The bounds of Hell he has destroyed
and overthrown the devil’s power.
For even he is taken, who captive held the
first of men. Today our Saviour has burst
alike the gates and bolts of death.

Our shepherd,
the fount of living water, is gone.
At his passing the sun grew dark.
For even he is taken, who captive held the
first of men. Today our Saviour has burst
alike the gates and bolts of death.The bounds of Hell he has destroyed
and overthrown the devil’s power.
For even he is taken, who captive held the
first of men. Today our Saviour has burst
alike the gates and bolts of death.

All you who pass along this way,
take heed and consider
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.
Take heed, all you people,
and consider my sorrow.

Victoria’s Tenebrae Responsories, first published in Rome in 1585, were written for the solemn services of Holy Week, when the candles were gradually extinguished and the church fell into darkness. The cycle reaches its bleakest point in O vos omnes, the fifth responsory at Matins on Holy Saturday.

Behold how the just man dies,
and no one feels for him.
The just are done away with, and no one cares.
From the face of iniquity is the just man taken,
and his memory shall be in peace. Like a lamb before the shearer
he was silent and opened not his mouth.
From anguish and from judgement was he taken,
and his memory shall be in peace.
Behold how the just man dies, and no one feels for him.
The just are done away with, and no one cares.
From the face of iniquity is the just man taken,
and his memory shall be in peace.

Behold how the just man dies,
and no one feels for him. The just are done
away with, and no one cares.
From the face of iniquity is the just man
taken, and his memory shall be in peace. Like a lamb before the shearer he was silent
and opened not his mouth. From anguish and
from judgement was he taken,
and his memory shall be in peace. Behold
how the just man dies, and no one feels for
him. The just are done away with, and no one
cares. From the face of iniquity is the just
man taken, and his memory shall be in peace.

The kings of the earth rose up,
and the princes assembled together
against the Lord, and against His Christ. Why have the nations given vent to their rage,
and why have the people set their hearts on empty thoughts
against the Lord,
and against His Christ?

The kings of the earth rose up,
and the princes assembled together
against the Lord, and against His Christ. Why have the nations given vent to their
rage, and why have the people set their
hearts on empty thoughts
against the Lord, and against His Christ?

I am counted among them that go down
into the pit. I have become like a man without help,
free among the dead.They placed me in the pit of Hell,
in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
I have become like a man without help,
free among the dead.

I am counted among them that go down
into the pit. I have become like a man
without help, free among the dead.They placed me in the pit of Hell,
in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
I have become like a man without help,
free among the dead.

When the Lord was buried,
they sealed his tomb, rolling a rock
before the entrance to the tomb.
Setting soldiers to guard it.The chief priests came to Pilate
and petitioned him.
Setting soldiers to guard it.
When the Lord was buried,
they sealed his tomb, rolling a rock
before the entrance to the tomb.
Setting soldiers to guard it.

When the Lord was buried,
they sealed his tomb, rolling a rock
before the entrance to the tomb.
Setting soldiers to guard it.The chief priests came to Pilate
and petitioned him.
Setting soldiers to guard it.
When the Lord was buried,
they sealed his tomb, rolling a rock
before the entrance to the tomb.
Setting soldiers to guard it.